Kagemi – Beyond the Metaphor of Mirrors

The Kage of Kagemi is shadow
The light of contrast, the image in the mirror of water’s surface
The mi is seeing and being seen
Some say Kagemi is the ancient origin of “mirror” (kagemi)
In light, the surface that reflects and is reflected, looked into and looking back
SURFACE BEGINNING IN THE HORIZONTAL WATER PLANE AND TRANSFORMING TO THE PERPENDICULAR FACE
From an ambiguous and transient state to one clearly outlined
The right hand asks, the left hand answers
Once an imaginary sur-face is defined

– Ushio Amagatsu

I Wind in the water depths
II MANEBI – two mirrors
III Echoings of gaze and return gaze
IV In the light by the waterside
V Infinite dialogue
VI Empty / Full
VII CHIRAL / ACHIRAL, Agitation and Sedimentation